As Resideo Technologies prepares to spin off its ADI Global Distribution business into a standalone public company, industry observers are weighing in on what the separation could mean for the security and smart home channels. While the move is rooted in financial strategy and structural simplification, it may have broader implications for product innovation, distribution dynamics and how integrators engage with both entities going forward.
During a July 30 investor call, Resideo executives emphasized that the timing of the spin-off was enabled in part by the resolution of a long-standing indemnification agreement with Honeywell. That agreement, which had obligated Resideo to annual payments of up to $140 million through 2043, was settled through a one-time payment of $1.59 billion.
“We arrived at what we think is a really fair settlement and a good outcome for both parties,” said Resideo CFO Mike Carlet, adding that the transaction clears a major structural hurdle and supports a “clean” separation of the businesses. He also noted that intercompany sales between ADI and Resideo’s Products & Solutions (P&S) segment were in the single-digit range — significant but not entangled — making the operational break relatively straightforward.
With both ADI and P&S now positioned to operate independently, each company will develop its own capital structure, strategic focus and growth agenda. Carlet said both entities are “really good cashflow companies” and suggested that mergers and acquisitions could play a role in their respective futures.
Greater Flexibility or Added Complexity?
Industry consultant Kirk MacDowell views the spin-off as a positive for both companies, particularly in terms of operational focus. “ADI can focus 100% on their model of distribution and Resideo can focus on product roadmap and delivery,” he told SecurityInfoWatch. He added that while some dealers might initially perceive the decoupling as disruptive — especially those who purchase Resideo products through ADI under special pricing terms — most integrators are unlikely to feel significant impact unless they are large-volume buyers.
On the service side, MacDowell suggested the separation could actually be beneficial. “The decoupling allows both companies their independence and not [to be] beholden to each other,” he said. “On the service level front, I think it may even improve a bit.”
Still, MacDowell cautioned that the success of the move will depend on execution. “It is not unlike attrition which may occur during an acquisition,” he explained. “Keen focus and attention to customers’ needs will be paramount to ADI’s ‘ability to hold them and grow them’ in reference to their loyal dealer base.”
Implications for Channel Strategy
Jennifer Kent, vice president of research at Parks Associates, highlighted potential shifts in how Resideo might now approach the channel. “Without internal distribution demands, management can better allocate R&D and marketing for Honeywell Home, First Alert, etc., to speed up product innovation in a very competitive market,” she told SecurityInfoWatch. Kent, who pens Security Business's “The Smart Money”column, also noted that the separation may enable Resideo to pursue more direct-to-consumer or dealer-level digital channels, “bypassing traditional distribution constraints.”
However, that freedom comes with a trade-off. “Disconnection from ADI means Resideo loses a guaranteed route to market,” Kent said, pointing to the smart home market’s “very fragmented channel landscape.” She added that Resideo’s success post-spin-off will hinge on building or securing alternate distribution partnerships or strengthening its ecommerce and integrator strategies.
A Shift Away from the Hybrid Model
The spin-off also raises questions about the long-term viability of the hybrid manufacturer-distributor structure that Resideo has operated under. MacDowell sees this model as increasingly outdated. “I see the days of manufacturer-distributor hybrid no longer relevant in today’s environment as it adds complexity to operational and financial execution,” he said. While he stopped short of predicting further divestitures, he acknowledged that decoupling opens the door to greater strategic optionality down the line.
Both Kent and MacDowell suggested that if the split proves successful — delivering stronger, more focused companies on either side — it could prompt other vertically integrated players to reevaluate their structures. “Each entity can stand on their own and act accordingly,” MacDowell said.
Positioning After Snap One
The spin-off also follows Resideo’s acquisition of Snap One last year, a move that expanded its portfolio of professionally installed smart living technologies. As the company prepares to separate product development from distribution, the integration of Snap One’s assets could further shape how Resideo defines its go-to-market approach, and how ADI positions itself as an independent distributor of low-voltage solutions.
With leadership continuity in place — Tom Surran continuing as president of Resideo’s P&S business and Rob Aarnes leading ADI — the companies are expected to maintain existing relationships in the near term. Carlet confirmed that licensing agreements with Honeywell and other intellectual property rights arrangements will remain intact.
Whether the move yields competitive advantage or operational strain will largely depend on how each business capitalizes on its independence. As MacDowell put it, “There are fantastic distributors, both large and small, that are doing a wonderful job and their customers love them. Now, each entity can get back in their lane.”
